Woodford Reserve was my gateway bourbon. I first had it on a Delta flight perhaps 15 years ago or so. Not to say I had never had whisky or bourbon before but it was the first time I realized I really love this stuff! Prior to tasting Woodford on that flight I think my main whisky intake was some well brand mixed with coke at a bar somewhere. Anyway this was the one that will always remind me of how I first started my love of whisky. Nose: Very strong alcohol, nostril flaring strong. Hard to get past that to smell anything else really but was slightly getting a sweetness, brown sugar perhaps and some cinnamon and a slight bit of vanilla but had to work to find those notes. I left it to sit for awhile and came back to smell some cherries and oak. Nice! I was starting to fear I was going to be let down by an old friend so letting it sit saved the relationship a bit for me. I continued to let it sit before tasting as I really was concerned about being let down. Flavor: On first sip it was strong alcohol still, flavor filled my throat with a burn. Was not loving that. (wish I could change dates on my tastings. I literally have not had a zillion whiskies today!) Anyway the mouthfeel is full and chewy which is nice. I like a chewy bourbon. Still it was difficult to get past the intensity of the alcohol sting on my palate. I mean I can handle the sting but I do not love it or seek it out. It is very strong on cinnamon. Butter slightly begins to peek through like a shy toddler. So I did what I never care to do.... I added one small ice cube. One of those my fridge makes with a hole in the middle. So half an ice cube just to get some amount of water in it. This did help to tame the alcohol sting a lot. Still I am left feeling this bottle will sit for awhile and possibly be used for mixing with other things - Manhattans anyone? I am grateful however that this specific bourbon gave way to my love and interest in learning more and trying more whiskies. With ice it is far more creamy and more vanilla and even the cherry come out but not enough for my liking. I used to think it tasted like butterscotch but I did not get that in this tasting. I have had way more intense butterscotch flavors in whisky since this. I will absolutely come back to this as I do have a bottle. We will see if I detect something different next time. I am sure that tasting can be influenced by many things from other smells in the air, to if someone you are with is wearing a cologne or perfume, to foods you have eaten to one's mood in general. To me sampling whisky is also a mental game as much as a tasting and nosing one. Time will tell. Ratings have nothing to do with cost - just my impressions.